Cards hope most rehabbing players ready upon return to Busch

The Cardinals are patiently waiting for four players to wrap up rehabbing injuries, but it remains uncertain which players will be ready when.The closest to a return, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, is John Jay, who has missed 43 games with a wrist injury. He will join the team on its final West Coast road swing of the season. The Cards begin a three-game series Friday at San Diego.Matt Adams (torn quadriceps) will head to Florida to begin activities at the team's facilities in Jupiter. Matt Holliday (torn quadriceps) and relief pitcher Jordan Welden (rotator cuff) will remain in St. Louis to continue their rehab efforts. The Cards have been dealing with an ever-increasing number of injuries. Their entire outfield has been effectively wiped out with rookie sensation Randal Grichuk heading to the DL earlier this week with an elbow strain, followed by right fielder Jason Heyward now nursing a hamstring strain, although that injury appears not to be worthy of a DL stint. Heyward, according to the Post-Dispatch, could be back in the lineup as soon as Friday.The others, the Cards hope, will be ready or at least close to ready to play the time they return to Busch Stadium on Aug. 31, although Grichuk remains two to three weeks away."I'm hoping (the players) are healthier. Whether that means more players available or not …" manager Mike Matheny told the Post-Dispatch. "We better be healthier. That's the purpose of time. This is a long road trip."Reinforcements can't come soon enough. The Pittsburgh Pirates refuse to fall back and are just 5.0 games behind the Cards for the NL Division lead.(h/t St. Louis Post-Dispatch)